Number of term-time school holiday fines hits another record high

A record 459,288 school holiday fines were issued in England last year, according to new figures from the Department for Education (DfE).

The number of term-time holiday fines rose by 4% in 2024-25 when compared with the previous year, and accounted for 93% of all fines issued for unauthorised school absence.

It is the first set of data issued which includes a change in the rules on holiday fines from 2024, which increased the value of each fine from £60 to £80 per parent, per child.

The government says fines "have a vital place in our system" and that term-time holidays can affect entire classes due to missed learning.

The region with the highest rate of penalty notices, Yorkshire and the Humber, saw a slight drop to 103 per 1,000 enrolled pupils in the latest data, while London, which has the lowest rate, saw a slight increase to 36 per 1,000 pupils.

Fines are issued by individual councils, which has historically led to variation in the rate of fines issued in different local authority areas.

The national framework published by the previous government in 2024 was intended to introduce a more consistent approach.

Families can save thousands by taking holidays during the school term, but teachers warn that the impact on their learning can be severe.

Dozens of people have contacted the BBC via Your Voice, as the number of holiday fines issued to families since the pandemic continues on an upward trajectory.

Chris, 42, an RAF officer from Staffordshire, said working in the military means he has been unable to go away with his family during the regular school holidays.

In June 2025, he took his children Oliver and Emily, then 10 and six, out of school for five days for a holiday to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt.

"It was the first overseas holiday they've had," he said.

He was fined by Staffordshire County Council, but ultimately managed to successfully appeal against it, thanks in part to a letter from his bosses in the military.

"Learning those life skills and some of that cultural awareness that they're picking up by having these holidays far outweighs the fact that they missed five days in education," Chris said.

A spokesperson for Staffordshire County Council said: "We do understand that in rare circumstances, there can be exceptional situations for families.

"When these arise, we're always willing to look at each case individually and with understanding. In this instance, the family provided sufficient evidence relating to military service, and the fine was withdrawn."

The government says, in most cases, schools and local authorities will try to provide support to help improve a child's attendance – but if this is ineffective, or the absence is for an unauthorised term-time holiday, parents may face a fine.

According to DfE guidelines issued in August 2024:

• Schools must consider fines if a child misses five or more days unauthorised
• Fines cost £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days, per parent per child
• If a parent gets a second fine for the same child in three years, it costs £160 immediately
• For a third unauthorised absence, other action like prosecution is considered, which could result in a fine of up to £2,500, or a jail sentence of up to three months
• Money from fines is paid to the local authority

Darren Morgan, head teacher of Manchester's Kings Road Primary, said he understands why some families make the most of cheaper holidays during term time and does not find fines effective if they are struggling financially.

However, he said the impact of missing school can be "quite significant" and lead to gaps in children's learning, as well as impacting their wellbeing and mental health.

"For children who missed a week of school, going back can be quite challenging," he said.

"They're conscious of the missed aspects of learning."

Lee Parkinson, otherwise known as Mr P, a primary school teacher in Manchester with half a million Facebook followers, says fines can be a bit of a "blunt tool".

"If we genuinely want to improve attendance, the solutions are early support; better access to mental health support; practical help with things like transport, breakfast, consistent approaches across councils and working with councils before patterns set in," he said.

Lucy from East Sussex is currently on holiday in Lanzarote with her husband and their three children.

She says she is expecting to arrive home to fines from the council.

As a farming family, she said January is the only time of year they can take time off.

Speaking from her balcony on holiday, she told the BBC the family saved about £1,500 by going in term time rather than in February half term.

But, she said, it was not about the money.

"When we come back in February we'll start lambing. Then we have a second lot of lambing usually around the Easter holidays. We're harvesting in the summer holidays - it's relentless really. It's busy."

"A week's holiday for us as a family is more important than our children being in primary school," she said.

Lucy said she "hugely respects" the education system, and that her children's attendance the rest of the year is very good.

"I'm quite happy to pay the fines, but I just don't want to be prosecuted. I potentially face huge fines and a stint in jail for just wanting to spend a bit of time with my children."

An East Sussex County Council spokesperson said it recognises pressures on families, but that it has a duty to ensure that all children attend school.

"Statutory guidance states that absences from school should only be authorised by head teachers in exceptional circumstances," they said.

"We work closely with schools across the county on a wide range of measures to increase school attendance."

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) said non-attendance can mean children miss important learning.

But, he said the use of fines to manage absence "increasingly appears to be an overly simplistic solution to a more complex issue, and it is becoming clear that this approach is increasingly ineffective."

Pepe Di'Iasio, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said there was "good evidence that missing time in the classroom has a direct impact on a child's attainment and future prospects".

But he said it was "clear that fines are not acting as much of a deterrent".

A spokesperson for the DfE said: "Every child deserves the best start in life, and that begins with being in school. Term-time holidays place the burden on teachers to support missed learning and affect the entire class.

"We are playing our part to support those children who face barriers to attending school, and this is making a difference – with five million more days in school last academic year and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent.

"Alongside this, fines continue to have a vital place in our system, so everyone is held accountable for ensuring children are in school."

Additional reporting by Jonathan Fagg, Ema Sabljak and Lauren Woodhead